Page 81 of Truce Of The Matter

“Thanks.”

“I wasn’t expecting you this morning,” he says nervously but he has no reason to be concerned.

He has actually been doing a great job. Me being here is just a formality. All new hires get two evals during the first ninety days of probation, one midway and one at the end. This midway one allows us to identify and hopefully correct any areas of concern b fire it’s too late.

“It’s time for your mid and I’ve witnessed everything but an opening. Don’t mind me though. Just do what you normally do; pretend I’m not even here.”

“Okay. I’ll try,” he says.

“And please eat those cronuts. I bought those for y’all,” I tell everyone. Then I look back at Kyron. “Where’s Rohan?”

“He called out and this is his third time in two weeks. I put a verbal warning on the desk for you to approve.”

“Okay. Did you get somebody to come in and cover?”

“Mack is coming in two hours early. He’ll be here at ten.”

“Well, use me until then. Let me put my stuff down and then I’ll be all yours.”

I leave him in the kitchen and journey to the office. After locking my tote in the cabinet, I check everything in the manager’s inbox and find his warning request and five schedule change requests. For now, I leave them in the box. I’ll review it all after this morning’s prep.

When I return to the kitchen, I wash my hands then apron and glove up. Kyron assigns me to the meats. The chicken wings and oxtails have been thoroughly cleaned and he wants me to season them. Between the hundred pounds of wings and eighty pounds of oxtails, it takes me two and a half hours. Mack arrives right on time to start the oxtails. From Sunday to Wednesday,we sell a ton of oxtails and fried chicken wings are a daily favorite.

Since I’m already in the kitchen, I make a few more gallons of lemonade before watching Kyron check in a truck order of food and supplies from the Restaurant Depot. He has already developed a good rapport with the delivery drivers which is always a good thing. It comes in handy when we need rush deliveries or favors during crunch time.

By one, I’ve seen enough and I’m thoroughly impressed. He’s efficient, good with delegating and jumping in when needed, and he has truly gained the trust and respect of the team. So, after grabbing some collards mixed with cabbage, two wings, and a cornbread muffin from the kitchen, I go back into the office. Taj is inside eating a salad.

“Well damn. Make me look greedy then,” I scoff playfully when I sit behind the desk. “You made that?”

“No. Mack always makes my salads.”

“Oh really? He’s never made me one.”

“Have you ever asked him to?”

“No but still,” I respond and she laughs.

“Do you want a salad?”

While laughing myself, I answer honestly. “Hell nah. These greens were calling me and I can’t eat greens without fried chicken and cornbread.”

“How was the wedding?”

“Beautiful. It was in the Butterfly Garden, where Monae had her wedding.”

“Oh then it was definitely beautiful. Her wedding was my first time there but I’ve been back a few times. I’ve even eaten in the restaurant there.” She lifts her head from her salad then asks, “So what did you think of Kyron?”

“He’s doing so good. I’ll write his eval up before I leave. No areas for improvement and I only have one score of averageand that’s on scheduling. I’m not concerned though. He listens, so between me and you we can get him more proficient at scheduling.”

“Agreed. I can’t believe I almost counted him out because of that damn suit.”

“See. Can’t always judge a book,” I tell her. Then I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. When I pull it out, I see a text from Daija.

Daija: Where are you?

Me: At the restaurant.

Daija: In the back?

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